Suspension bracket



Jan. 31, 1956 E, z L-r 2,733,038

SUSPENSION BRACKET Filed 001;. 15, 1955 #714927 22-02": 5/7761" .fZe/Zt,

his Afornqy 3 2,733,038 SUSPENSION BRACKET Elmer Jacob Zelt, Fort Wayne, IntL, assignor to Generai Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application ()ctober 15, 1953, Serial No. 336,353 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-317) This invention relates to devices for suspending an article from an overhead point.

It is frequently desirable that an article be suspended from an overhead point. For example, transformers for operating luminous tubes, such as neon signs, are often suspended or hungfrom overhead by means of wire or chains. In the past, these transformers have been hung by means of various arrangements including hooks, however these arrangements have in general been unsatisfactory since there was either a possibility for the transformer to become unhooked and fall or a non-standard transformer construction had to be utilized. It is therefore desirable to provide simple and inexpensive means for suspending an article, such as a luminous tube transformer, the suspension means being characterized by its secure engagementwith the article thereby preventing accidental detachment therefrom and by its applicability to an article having a standard mounting arrangement.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved bracket for suspending an article incorporating the desirable features set forth above.

In accordance with this invention, a bracket is provided for suspending an article having a mounting portion with two spaced apart openings formed therein, the bracket being formed of a single length of relatively stiff wire. The bracket comprises a straight end portion adapted to abut one side of the mounting portion. A loop portion joins the straight end portion and extends through one of the two openings, the loop portion being adapted to be engaged by suspension means such as a chain. A hooked end portion joins the loop portion and extends through the other of the openings and engages the straight end portion thereby securing the article to the bracket.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the improved suspension bracket of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side view of the arrangement of Fig. 1 further illustrating the improved arrangement of this invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an article to be suspended, such as a luminous tube transformer 1. The transformer 1 includes case portion 2, which encloses the core and coils (not shown), and which has a base portion 3. Base portion 3 has mounting portions 4 formed integral therewith and extending beyond the ends of case 2. Mounting portions 4 have spaced apart openings 5 and 6 formed therein which normally serve to secure transformer 1 to a flat surface.

In order to suspend transformer 1 from an overhead point utilizing mounting holes 5 and 6 in mounting portions 4 and preventing accidental detachment, the arrangement now to be described is provided. A pair of suspension brackets 7 are provided each respectively engaging openings 5 and 6 in mounting portions 4. Each mounting bracket 7 is formed of a single length of relatively stiff wire and has a straight end portion 8 abutting the back surface of mounting portion 4. A second portion 9 States T rent joins the upper end of straight end portion 8 and extends through upper opening 5 at right angles to straight end portion 8. A generally U-shaped loop portion 10 is provided having its shorter leg 11 joining portion 9 and disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to straight end portion 3. The longer leg 12 of loop portion 10 is also disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to straight end portion 3, as shown, and terminates in a hooked end portion 13. Hooked end portion 13 is disposed at right angles to straight end portion 8 and extends through the lower opening 6 to engage the lower end of straight end portion 8. Loop portion 10 is engaged by a suitable ring 14 which in turn is attached to a suspending chain 15.

It will be readily seen that in order to assemble this improved suspension arrangement, straight end portion 8 of bracket 7 is initially passed through ring 14 and upper opening 5 in mounting portion 4 and hooked end portion 13 is then passed through lower opening 6 and hooked over the lower end of straight end portion 8. It is thus readily apparent that once hooked end portion 13 engages straight end portion 8, the transformer 1 cannot accidentally become detached and fall from chain 15 and ring 14. It will further be readily apparent. that this suspension arrangement is applicable to a transformer having a standard mounting arrangement since it utilizes the mounting portion 4 and openings 5 and 6 normally used to mount the transformer on a flat surface.

It will be readily seen that bracket 7 could be formed with a complete loop at its upper end and that straight end portion 8 could be crinkled if necessary.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire that it be understood therefore that this invention is not limited to the form shown and I intend in the appended claim to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In combination, a transformer having a pair of spaced apart relatively thin mounting portions each having two spaced apart openings formed therein, and a pair of brackets for suspending said article, each of said brackets being formed of a single length of relatively stifi wire and comprising a straight end portion abutting one side of one of said mounting portions, another portion joining one end of said straight end portion, said other portion being disposed at right angles to said straight end portion and. extending through one of said openings, a generally U- shaped loop portion adapted to be engaged by suspension means for supporting said transformer, said loop portion having one leg joining the other end of said other portion and forming an obtuse angle with said straight end portion, the other leg of said loop portion being longer than said one leg and forming an obtuse angle with said straight end portion, and another end portion joining said other leg and having a hook formed on the end thereof, said other end portion being disposed at right angles to said straight end portion and extending through said other opening and engaging the other end of said straight end portion thereby securing said transformer to said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 158,082 Higgs Dec. 22, 1874 643,025 Wright Feb. 6, 1900 1,015,213 Shands Jan. 16, 1912 1,290,257 Limerick Jan. 17, 1919 1,608,380 Farley Nov. 23, 1926 1,820,997 Yeidel Sept. 1, 1931 2,185,299 Heraty Jan. 2, 1940 Patented Jan. 31, 1956 

